NEWPORT NEWS — — When Dennis Koutoufas took the Menchville coaching job last August, he didn't know what to expect. The Monarchs had lost their top two scorers, that much he knew. But that was about it.

"I took the job because Greg Henderson asked me to," Koutoufas said, referring to Menchville's athletic director and his close friend. "I had no idea what we had. So if you would have told me back then we'd win this, I'd have been shocked."

That was then.

Friday night, a young team made up largely of transfers came together and defeated top-seeded Phoebus 64-56 in the Peninsula District tournament final at Woodside. The Monarchs already had clinched the PD's No. 2 seed in next week's Eastern Regional, but it's not every day you get to hang a banner in the gym.

Menchville (19-6) took the lead for good on Michale Jacobs' 3-pointer with 2:48 remaining. One night after missing 10 of 15 free throws in a semifinal win over Bethel, the Monarchs closed it out by making eight of their last 10.

"This feels so great," said Jacobs, who led all scorers with 19 points. "It feels so good to win the tournament."

Nobody saw it coming when preseason practice began in November, and few were predicting it before the tournament began. But with another strong job on the defensive end and a disciplined approach, Menchville beat the regular-season champion for the second time in three games this season.

"This is a hungry group," Koutoufas said. "There are a lot of chips on a lot of shoulders."

Once again between these teams, no lead was safe.

When Dashawn Stitt hit a short hook with 1:29 left in the first half, Phoebus (18-7) led 34-24. But Jacobs followed a 3-pointer from the left wing with a jumper from the foul line. And after Breon Key committed an offensive foul, Tre Brown's layup cut the Phantoms' lead to 34-31 at halftime.

With 4:52 left in the game, Troy Williams' drive put Phoebus ahead 51-47. But over the next 3 ?|1/2?? minutes, the Phantoms went scoreless. Ben Sealey hit from the right elbow, and Deshorn Lake dunked on a follow to tie it.

Then it was time for Jacobs to deliver -- again. The senior sixth man, who has delivered so many big shots for Menchville this year, hit a 3 from the left corner to put Menchville up 54-51. After Key missed a 3, Jacobs went 2-of-2 from the line to push the lead to five.

Stitt answered with a 3-pointer, but Sealey hit a pair of free throws. After Khaaliq Fletcher's 3-point attempt rattled out, Derrius Franklin scored off a pass from Sealey to make it 60-54.

"We got lucky," Koutoufas said. "(Fletcher) had a good look and it was in and out. If it goes down, it's still anybody's ballgame. Sometimes you gotta get lucky, and we got lucky."

Phoebus shot 32 percent from the floor. Williams, the district's third-leading scorer, was held to six points. James Daniel III had 12 points but none after halftime.

"Gotta give credit to Steve Artis in the summer," Jacobs said of his AAU coach, a former Ferguson High and CNU star. "He's helped us a whole lot on defense."

Phoebus will open in the Eastern Regional at home against Lakeland on Monday night. Menchville will play Great Bridge on Monday at Woodside.